(EnergyAsia, March 15 2012, Thursday) — UK major BP said it plans to sell off its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) bottling and tank filling operations in several countries as well as its non refinery-integrated wholesale business by end-2013.

Also included in the sale of the businesses in Portugal, UK, Austria, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, China and South Africa are its LPG storage terminals, bottle filling plants, customer lists, operating licences and logistics assets.

BP said the decision follows last year’s review which concluded that it was not a “natural” LPG owner and operator, leaving it to focus its refining and marketing businesses where it has leading market positions that can be sustained and expanded. The major said it intends to retain its autogas business in Europe.

Tufan Erginbilgic, BP’s chief operating officer for its refining and marketing business, said:

“BP intends to remain a key player in the European LPG autogas sector. We will also maintain LPG wholesale outlets where they support our refineries.

“We believe that new owners will be able to build on these good assets, and market positions to grow the businesses further in the best interests of customers and, other stakeholders, including those who work in the business.

“We want to develop world class fuels value chains with an integrated offer to our customers utilising our market positions. The LPG bottles and tank filling activities will continue to be managed as a global business until sold.”